Chapter 66: Passing the Trials

A giant semi-transparent palm had grasped the body of the raging Elite Berserk Ape; confused by its sudden predicament, the ape looked around while struggling to move its limbs.

As it struggled, it noticed that Marius was looking at it with a teasing smile as he held his hand forward, a strand of energy trailing from it into the giant palm that held its body in place.

Instantly, the Elite Berserk Ape became angrier, its eyes glowing in brighter red lights as its body erupted with a terrifying mystic power.

"Rooooaaar!"

It made a savage battle cry as it was clear that it had entered a berserk state which was well suited to its name. However, regardless of its attempt to free itself with its newly empowered physique, it found that it could not move in the slightest.

"Hoo!" The ape whimpered as its berserk eyes became tamed as it looked at Marius in fear; it seemed that it didn't want to lose its life.

The others that watched this scene looked on with shock as they showed pensive expressions while others exclaimed.

"You've got to be kidding me; that's a darn Third Star E Class monster, and certainly not the average type in its rank; how the hell could this guy so easily suppress it?" One person said in alarm.

Repton's eyes shook when he saw the scene; even he wouldn't be able to properly fight a monster of that standard, much less crush it into a pile of messy flesh. He gulped while trembling as he muttered, "I... I've really done it now."

Torn looked at this with a flicker in his eyes as he thought to himself, 'As I thought, his strength is comparable to a Titled Warrior, and if he so wishes he could even become a Battalion Leader. I wonder, why haven't I heard of him?'

Leya had her mouth opened in shock as she looked at the godlike scene, her pupils reflecting as Marius made a gripping motion, the giant arm violently gripping the ape as everyone heard bone-crushing sounds. Soon, blood spewed from the sky as with the cries of the Elite Berserk Ape; Marius smashed its body into the pile of the corpse mountain.

'This uncle, he sure is a monster. Hehe, I must find a way to join his party!'

Leya thought with shining eyes as she stared at the dominant form that stood on the lone mountain of corpses.

Not only her, but many other Seekers who observed from the audience had thought to the same. A few silhouettes were standing at different corners, and even some kept a low profile in the battle ring.

One of them was a meek-looking young man with short black hair that fell down over his eyes; he wore long-sleeved clothing with leather armor as his arms were buried in his sleeves as he hunched himself forward in a poor posture.

On another side was an archer with a large hat hiding their face, leaving only a red ponytail; they wore clothing akin to a classic martial arts battle uniform as a quiver was strapped to their back.

With his eyes glossing over these persons, Torn made a satisfied smile as he wrapped up his thoughts; he then clapped his hands, his palm sending a powerful ripple about the room.

With his actions, everyone who had previously been fighting and dodging the ring's hazards turned their attention towards him. In fact, even the monsters had retreated as the vicious obstacles had started to recede.

Everyone's faces became excited as they knew that they had more or likely passed the Drilling Trials.

Torn, seeing their expressions smirked as he spoke, "Good, this trial is over, each of you who are standing in this ring today are the new Seekers of our union! Congrats to you all!"

When all candidates heard this, their eyes beamed with excitement as they raised their weapons into the air to cheer and laugh—the atmosphere filled with joy as if they had served a great ordeal.

"Whew! That was a hassle."

Leya said as she wiped the sweat from her forehead, the cloth that covered her face a bit disordered as it revealed a beautiful face with bright red lips and a small nose. Her hair was short and of a dark blue hue.

"If you're tired from this, you shouldn't be here, kid." A voice said as a figure appear nearby.

"Hmph! Speak for yourself," Leya said as she seemed to know the owner, it was a short man with a long point, garbed like a monk, but his manner was vastly different.

He stared at her with a good look, but Leya didn't shy away and looked back at him with a set of firm and determined eyes. The man sighed before he turned around and spoke, "Fine since you've made it this far, this old man will let it pass. I'll speak to that lazy father of yours. Take care not to get yourself killed out there."

With those words said, the man flickered and vanished from the ring, his appearance gone unnoticed to many eyes, all except for Torn and Marius, who had finally dismounted his corpse mountain.

Marius gave Leya a look but thought nothing of it as he turned his attention elsewhere while pondering.

'Good, with this, I should have become an official Seeker, heh, my lovely wife will be proud.'

Thinking of what kind of reward, he will get for this achievement, Marius's face made a look all men could understand. Leya was about to come over and say something, but as she saw the strange look on Marius' face, she hesitated.

Naturally, as an inexperienced young girl, sheltered all her life, Leya didn't understand such a look. She made an odd look as she thought, 'This uncle is really strange, why is he making that kind of face?'

Leya was now pondering Marius's strangeness, but hidden within the crowd of departing Seeker's that came to observe. A familiar rat-like face was currently eyeing the scene with sharp eyes.

"Oh, it turns out that he was more capable than I thought, it looks like that Herculean wasn't all talk." Rat Wringman said as he stared at Marius with narrowed eyes.

At this time, the pointed beard man with a hat and a bow on his back was walking along with the familiar busty bodied woman with orange hair. They went by Rat Wringman without even glancing at him.

Rat Wringman glared at them while in thought, 'Kella, the Flare Mage, and Hoffman, the Gold Bowman. I didn't they would show up here, it looks like someone must have caught their interest, probably that man... maybe I should try to recruit him before everyone else.'

Rat Wringman then left the area in a hurry with his thoughts set, not daring to waste time.

After giving the candidates time to recover a bit, Torn finally spoke again to everyone as he gestured towards a large door.

"Good, now follow me; I shall be handing out each of your Seeker Emblems, after which, I will be going over the rules."

With those words said, Torn turned around and walked towards another room; Marius smiled at this as he moved along with the crowd and speculative Leya, who walked a little distance away. His eyes flashing as he thought to himself, 'I wonder, what's that wife of mine up to?'

With those thoughts in mind, Marius's figure soon vanished behind the large door along with the crowd of newly appointed Seekers, but as he readied himself for a new activity, so did Ria and the little Rose who was about to have a big day.